normalnormalnormalThe sacred Teej festival in Haryana this year became a symbol of new opportunities for women. Upholding the tradition of brothers presenting gifts to sisters on Teej, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini presented a symbolic ‘Kothli’ full of welfare measures for women.At the state-level celebration held in Ambala district on Monday, the Chief Minister launched the ‘Lado Sakhi Yojana’ to further strengthen the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign. Under this initiative, a ‘Lado Sakhi’, an Anganwadi worker, ASHA worker, or ANM nurse will take care of pregnant women during childbirth. For every girl child born, the designated ‘Lado Sakhi’ will receive an incentive of Rs. 1,000.The Chief Minister also launched the ‘Badhte Kadam: Digital Bal Programme’ in Anganwadis, which will help Anganwadi workers provide better care and early education to young children.Highlighting that new initiatives have already successfully helped women-led startups to account for 50 percent in Haryana, the Chief Minister announced more such steps to encourage women entrepreneurs. Under the state startup policy, half of all beneficiaries will be women-led ventures. To encourage entrepreneurial skills from a young age, 10,000 ‘Do-It-Yourself’ kits will be distributed to girl students.A separate scheme will be formulated to support women-led startups engaged in handmade and traditional items, such as ethnic fabrics, eco-friendly rural crafts, Ayurveda-based health and wellness products, and indigenous food products, with financial aid between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 1 lakh.He further informed that in partnership with NITI Aayog, Haryana will establish a ‘State Chapter’ of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, giving women entrepreneurs access to over 700 mentors, sector-specific training, funding opportunities, market access, and incubation support.The Chief Minister announced that under new industrial and sectoral policies, businesses employing Haryana’s women will receive additional subsidies, and public procurement norms will be relaxed to boost women entrepreneurs’ participation.Additionally, one ration depot in every development block will be allotted to women from self-help groups, providing them with livelihood opportunities while also increasing their participation in local governance.Chief Minister virtually inaugurates 131 Mahila Sanskriti Kendras across HaryanaAt the event, the Chief Minister virtually inaugurated 131 Mahila Sanskriti Kendras across Haryana. These centres will serve as platforms for women to engage in cultural activities such as singing, dancing, and devotional performances.He also handed over cheques worth Rs. 14.26 crore to self-help groups (SHGs) as part of revolving and community investment funds, and keys to newly established ‘Rural Harts’ in six districts were given to SHGs. Women artisans excelling in handicrafts were awarded Rs. 3 lakh each for the State Handicraft Award and the Outstanding Woman Artisan Award, along with 12 consolation prizes of Rs. 51,000 each.Awards were also presented to high-performing SHGs at the district level, with cash prizes of Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 50,000, and Rs. 25,000 for the first, second, and third positions, respectively.Teej celebrates our rich heritage and strong social bondsExtending wishes on the occasion of Teej, he said the festival reflects India’s cultural roots, traditions, and family values. It symbolises respect for women, love within families, and harmony with nature. He emphasised the importance of nurturing relationships, preserving culture, and protecting the environment for a happy life.He added that the state government is committed to celebrating traditional festivals with greater enthusiasm so that the younger generation remains connected to its heritage.Empowering women through education, health, and self-relianceHighlighting women’s empowerment as a key focus, he said Haryana has worked to improve the status of women through schemes like Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, which has helped raise the state’s gender ratio from 871 to 906 since 2014. The Aapki Beti-Hamari Beti Yojana has benefitted over 5.36 lakh girls by providing Rs. 21,000 to eligible families on the birth of daughters, said the Chief Minister.He said that over 66,000 SHGs are active in the state, with stamp duty waivers on loans up to Rs. 5 lakh. About 33 percent of ration depots are now run by women, and under the Har Ghar-Har Grihini Yojana, 18 lakh families receive LPG cylinders at Rs. 500 per month. The government aims to make five lakh women ‘Lakhpati Didis,’ with over two lakh already achieving this milestone.The Chief Minister said women also have 50 percent reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Several schemes for maternal and child health, as well as 33 all-women police stations and a dedicated helpline (1091), have been established to ensure their safety. In the past decade, 80 new government colleges have opened, 30 of which are exclusively for girls.Calling Teej a festival of greenery, he urged citizens to plant trees under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Abhiyan and contribute to environmental conservation.Anil Vij assures On-Time Execution of Transport and Energy SchemesEarlier speaking on the occasion, Transport and Energy Minister, Anil Vij appreciated the state government’s focus on development and lauded the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Saini. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of several projects in Ambala.Paying tribute to former Chief Minister late Chaudhary Bansi Lal, Anil Vij recalled working with him between 1996 and 2000. He shared that with Chaudhary Bansi Lal’s support, a canal water-based drinking water scheme was implemented in Ambala Cantonment, which brought much-needed relief to residents suffering from water shortages for years. He also remembered that the establishment of the Saha Industrial Growth Centre became possible due to Chaudhary Bansi Lal’s backing.Anil Vij highlighted that during his tenure as Health Minister, he had taken several significant initiatives for Ambala.Talking about the importance of the monsoon month of Sawan, he said it represents the vibrancy of nature. When the surroundings turn green, people’s hearts are filled with joy, and festivals like Teej are celebrated in this cheerful spirit, reflecting social and cultural unity, said Anil Vij.He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that all development projects are completed within set timelines and assured that he would personally see to it that the schemes of the Transport and Energy Departments are executed on time.Hariyali Teej: A Day to Pledge Respect and Safety for Women – Shruti ChoudhryDuring the celebration, the Women and Child Development Minister, Shruti Choudhry said that the festival of Teej reminds us to reaffirm our commitment to women’s empowerment. She emphasized that every daughter deserves respect, every mother should feel safe, and every child must have equal opportunities to grow and succeed.She shared with pride that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign from Haryana. Back in 2015, the state’s gender ratio was alarming, but consistent efforts and welfare initiatives have led to remarkable improvement over the years.The Minister said that various schemes such as the ‘Mukhyamantri Doodh Uphaar Yojana’, Protein Bar Scheme, transforming Anganwadi centres into smart classrooms, and nutrition programmes are strengthening the health and education of women and children.Appealing to the public, she urged everyone to work together to ensure that education becomes every child’s identity and dignity becomes the pride of every mother and daughter, making Haryana a true example of women’s empowerment through technology and innovation.During the ceremony, former Minister, Aseem Goel welcomed Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini and said that the Chief Minister works considering every citizen of Haryana as his family. He said that the Teej festival is a symbol of greenery, prosperity, and cultural unity.During the programme, Director General, Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department, Sh. K. M. Pandurang presented a memento to Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini. Besides this, the Chief Minister gifted the ‘Kothli’ to the women.Minister of State, Rajesh Nagar, BJP State President Mohan Lal Kaushik, a large number of women and other dignitaries were present.Van Mahotsav: A Celebration of Gratitude to Nature, Our Responsibility, and a Promise for a Healthy Future, says CM Government to Develop Entire Stretch from Kalka to Kalesar as a Major Tourism Hub CM Offers Prayers at Kaleshwar Mahadev Math Temple Before the Event Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini said that nature is the very basis of life, and protecting it must always remain our top priority. In today’s fast-paced race for modern development, Van Mahotsav reminds us that true progress lies in living in harmony with nature rather than exploiting it. Every tree we plant is a new source of life and a symbol of hope, he said.The Chief Minister was speaking after attending the state-level Van Mahotsav as the Chief Guest at Kalesar in Yamunanagar on Monday. On this occasion, he planted saplings, inaugurated the newly built rest house of the Forest Department, and earlier in the day, offered prayers to Lord Shiva at Kaleshwar Mahadev Math Temple, seeking prosperity and well-being for the state.The Chief Minister described Van Mahotsav as a mark of gratitude towards nature, an acceptance of our duty, and a pledge to ensure a healthy future for the coming generations. Referring to Kalesar, he said the region holds immense ecological importance and is also an attractive destination for tourists, nature lovers, and trekkers. The government, he informed, is working to develop the entire stretch from Kalka to Kalesar into a major tourism hub.Target to plant 2.10 crore Saplings in Haryana this yearHighlighting the government’s efforts to increase forest cover, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi launched the unique campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024. In the first phase, Haryana had set a target of 1.6 crore saplings but surpassed it by planting 1.87 crore saplings. The second phase of the campaign started this year on June 5, with a target of 90 lakh saplings. Alongside, under other schemes, the state aims to plant another 1.2 crore saplings this year, making a total of 2.10 crore new plantations across Haryana.Tough Steps Against Illegal Cutting and for Wildlife ProtectionThe Chief Minister said that special schemes have also been started to promote urban forestry so that cities can have more greenery. The government has taken strict action to curb illegal tree felling and ensure wildlife protection. Instructions have been given to the Forest Department to work more actively in this direction. Strong security arrangements have been made at Kalesar National Park, where illegal hunting has been completely banned. As a result, herds of 8 to 10 elephants were sighted in the park during April, October, and February last year. Elephants have also been rehabilitated in Bansantor. To build public sensitivity towards wildlife and forests, facilities such as jeep safaris and children’s study tours have been started in the area, said the Chief Minister.Water Conservation Projects Benefiting WildlifeThe Chief Minister shared that the government has launched the Green Aravalli Action Plan for South Haryana. Jointly implemented by the central and state governments, this project will cover the Aravalli ranges in four states, including Haryana. Out of the 29 districts selected, five are in Haryana. Dams have been constructed in hilly areas, especially in the Shivalik region, to conserve water. These dams not only provide drinking water for wildlife but also play an important role in improving groundwater levels, he said.18 crore trees Planted Since 2014; “Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme” launchedThe Chief Minister said that the state government has started the Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme as a mark of respect for trees older than 75 years. Under this scheme, Rs. 3,000 per year is given for the maintenance of each tree. So far, Rs. 1 crore has been transferred to the accounts of caretakers of 3,800 such trees. Since October 2014, approximately 18 crore saplings have been planted in Haryana. He added that geo-tagging and drone mapping would be conducted for existing and new plantations for five years to monitor their growth, ensuring an increase in forest cover.CM release of Forest Awareness BookletsThe Chief Minister also released Haryana Forest News and Pran Vayu Devta booklets. He said these booklets are part of awareness efforts to promote forest conservation. Haryana Forest News will share information about departmental activities, new initiatives, achievements, and challenges, while Pran Vayu Devta will provide knowledge about the importance of trees, their benefits, and methods for their protection.On this occasion, Environment and Forest Minister, Rao Narbir Singh said that the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign launched by the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi would have a far-reaching impact, and people should not only plant trees but also take responsibility for nurturing them.MLA, Ghanshyam Dass Arora also appealed to citizens to care for planted trees for at least a year, emphasizing that trees are life-givers and essential for preventing environmental degradation.The Chief Minister was warmly welcomed at the event by the Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department, Anand Mohan Saran and local leaders with bouquets.Principal Chief Conservator, Forests, Vineet Kumar Garg, former Cabinet Minister, Kanwar Pal, OSD to Chief Minister, Bharat Bhushan Bharti, Deputy Commissioner, Parth Gupta, and several other officers and local representatives were also present on this occasion.14 out of 24 complaints resolved on the spot during monthly District Public Relations and Grievances Committee meetingExcise Department to remove liquor shop from Nurna khera village within 3 days: Sports Minister Gaurav GautamMinister of State for Sports, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, and Law and Legislative, Sh. Gaurav Gautam, said that officers should not only follow the rules while addressing public grievances but also use their wisdom to ensure timely and effective resolution. He said that any kind of negligence in resolving complaints will not be tolerated.Gaurav Gautam was speaking while chairing the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee held at Sonipat on Monday. A total of 24 complaints were heard during the meeting, out of which 14 were resolved on the spot. Directions were given to submit one complaint after two months, while in another case, the Minister directed full compliance with the orders of the Lokayukta.The remaining complaints were kept pending.During the meeting, villagers from Nurna khera raised the issue of removing a liquor shop from their area. Taking swift action, the Sports Minister directed the officers of the excise department to remove the liquor shop within three days.MLA, Nikhil Madan, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Ms. Monika Dahiya, Police Commissioner, Smt. Mamta Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Sushil Sarwan, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Lakshit Sareen and other officers also remained present during the meeting.Robust arrangements in place for Haryana Teacher Eligibility TestHigh-tech Command and Control Centre to Monitor Each Exam Centre CloselyLive Monitoring of Exam Centres through AI-enabled CCTV CamerasTo ensure a fair and smooth conduct of the upcoming Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) scheduled on July 30 and 31, 2025, the Haryana Board of School Education, Bhiwani, has made robust arrangements.A spokesperson of the Board informed that before entering the examination centres, all candidates will be frisked using metal detectors and their biometric verification will be conducted. It will be ensured that no candidate carries any prohibited material. To prevent any malpractice or anti-social activities, live monitoring of exam centres will be conducted from the Board headquarters via a high-tech command and control centre using AI-powered CCTV cameras. Full security arrangements will also be in place around the exam centres through local police.All officials and staff have been instructed to wear their identity cards during the exam and strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Board. They are expected to carry out their responsibilities with honesty and impartiality to ensure the successful and smooth conduct of the exams.The Board spokesperson further stated that to strictly curb cheating and other irregularities, around 220 flying squads have been appointed. Additionally, each exam centre across the state will have a full-time observer, comprising one officer from the district administration and one official or staff representative from the education board. It is clearly stated that if any candidate or official/staff is found involved in cheating, misconduct or any criminal activity at any exam centre, strict action will be taken against them. Any kind of negligence or irresponsible behaviour by any official/staff will not be tolerated under any circumstances.It was also mentioned that if any member of the flying squad has a blood relation appearing at any exam centre, they must immediately inform the Board office and the district-level flying squad and must refrain from inspecting that particular centre.It is worth noting that over 4 lakh candidates will appear for the HTET across 673 examination centres in the state. The Level-3 (PGT) exam will be held on Wednesday, July 30 from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM. The Level-2 (TGT) exam will be held on Thursday, July 31 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and the Level-1 (PRT) exam will be conducted on the same day from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.Urban Local Bodies Minister Sh Vipul Goyal visits Bandhwari Waste Management SiteMinister Vipul Goyal inspected the ongoing beautification works and the installation of view cutters at the plant, providing necessary guidelines to the officialsA large-scale plantation campaign is scheduled for Sunday, August 4Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Vipul Goel, visited the Bandhwari waste management site on Gurugram-Faridabad road on Monday. During his visit, he inspected the beautification works, installation of view cutters, and other improvement works being carried out by the Municipal Corporation Gurugram. The Minister issued detailed guidelines to officials and reviewed the progress of the ongoing works.Large-Scale plantation campaign scheduled for Sunday, August 4The Urban Local Bodies Minister said that a large-scale plantation campaign will take place in the area between the main road and the view cutter at the site on Sunday, August 4. He directed officials to invite local dignitaries, including public representatives, to participate in the campaign. Prior to the event, officials must ensure the completion of soil addition, bed construction, and land preparation, he added.Emphasis on leachate management and disposal of legacy wasteVipul Goel emphasized prioritizing the proper disposal of leachate generated at the waste management plant. He also urged officials to expedite the tender process for the disposal of legacy waste.Beautification work progressing rapidlyCommissioner Municipal Corporation Gurugram Sh Pradeep Dahiya stated that beautification works at the plant are progressing at a fast pace. Improvements are being made not only from an environmental perspective but also to enhance the site’s visual appeal for the general public. The installation of a view cutter to screen the plant from the road has been completed. He added that a tender has been floated for additional works including plantation, fencing, tree guards, surface turfing, and landscaping, with an estimated cost of Rs 96 lakh. The tender will be opened on July 29.Infrastructure improvements at a cost of Rs 2 croreThe Municipal Corporation of Gurugram began work on the view cutter, boundary wall, and drainage system from July 14, at a cost of Rs 2 crore. View cutters have been installed along the site’s boundary to hide the landfill from public view. Additionally, leachate is being transported through tankers to the nearest sewage treatment plant. A new proposal of Rs 63 lakh has also been prepared to address the leachate volume.New Rs 2.45 crore proposal for CC road and additional facilitiesThe Municipal Commissioner said that a new tender has been floated on July 18 for Rs 2.45 crore. The project includes the construction of a 15-meter-wide, 400-meter-long CC road, an RCC drain, and the installation of additional Dharm Kanta. These improvements aim to reduce truck movement and alleviate long queues of garbage trucks. Uninterrupted power supply has also been ensured through the installation of a DG set.On this occasion, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Faridabad Sh Dhirendra Khadgata, Additional Municipal Commissioner Sh Ravinder Yadav, Additional Municipal Commissioner Municipal Corporation Faridabad Dr. Vijaypal Yadav, Joint Commissioner Sh Ravindra Malik and Dr. Preetpal Singh, Chief Engineer of Municipal Corporation Gurugram Sh Vijay Dhaka, and other officials were also present.Haryana Government issues posting/transfer orders of 4 HCS officers The Haryana Government has issued orders for postings and transfers of 4 HCS officers with immediate effect.As per the orders, Satinder Siwatch, District Municipal Commissioner, Kurukshetra, has been posted as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Barara.Bharat Bhushan, Joint CEO, Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority, has been posted as Deputy Secretary, Home Department, in addition to his present duties.Aman Kumar, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Barara, has been transferred as District Municipal Commissioner, Kurukshetra.Harpreet Kaur, Joint Director (Admn.), Information, Public Relations and Languages, and Deputy Secretary, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, has been appointed as Joint Director, Model Sanskriti Schools, against a vacant post.Haryana Launches Additional e-PMSMA Day to Boost Maternal Health Services Extended PMSMA Services Now Available on Last Working Day of Every Month in Haryana Due to Sustained efforts, Haryana’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped from 110 to 89: Health Minister Arti Singh RaonormalnormalThe post CM marks Haryali Teej festival by gifting women a ‘Kothli’ of welfare schemes appeared first on Chandigarh City News.